Topical skin care formulations comprising plant extracts

Abstract

Disclosed are methods of treating skin with topical skin compositions comprising at least one plant extract.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for treating skin, the method comprising topically applying to skin a composition comprising an effective amount of an alcoholic extract from  Loropetalum chinensis , wherein application of the composition to the skin reduces oxidation, tyrosinase activity, elastase activity, or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) activity in the skin, and wherein the alcoholic extract is a methanol, ethanol, propanol, or butanol extract. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extract is from the whole plant of  Loropetalum chinensis.    
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extract is an ethanol extract. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is applied to a fine line or wrinkle. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is applied to erythemic skin. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is applied to dry, flaky, or itchy skin. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is applied to skin having an uneven skin tone or melasmic skin. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is an emulsion. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the composition is an oil-in-water emulsion. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a cream or a lotion. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a solution. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is anhydrous. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 0.01% to 20%, by weight, of the  Loropetalum chinensis  extract. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises:
 (a) water; 
 (b) a chelating agent; 
 (c) a moisturizing agent; 
 (d) a preservative; and 
 (e) a thickening agent. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least 40% by weight of water. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1  wherein the extract is in liquid form and comprises methanol, ethanol, propanol, or butanol. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extract is a lyophilized extract in powdered form.